Canva has revolutionized the way we approach design, allowing anyone to create stunning visuals. Whether you're an experienced designer or just starting out, Canva's user-friendly interface makes creating professional looking designs easy.
Canva enables freelancers, students, small business owners, and Etsy marketplace sellers who may not have professional design backgrounds to transform their creative visions into tangible printed products. The platform provides a user-friendly design interface, a vast library of templates, and collaborative features, making it simple to create professional-looking print-ready files.
We've included steps to help you create print ready Canva designs that look fantastic when printed by a professional online printer.
Getting Started with Canva
Canva is a simple and friendly design tool. It's perfect for beginners, with an easy-to-use interface and a clear menu. You'll find thousands of templates for everything from business cards and flyers to social media posts. Plus, there's a huge library of photos, videos, and more.
Canva also makes it easy to work with others, sharing your designs and get feedback from your team.
Preparing Your Design for Printing
Start by choosing the correct dimensions for your project so your design fits perfectly, whether it's a postcard, business card, invitation, flyer, poster, or any other type of print medium. Make sure to check if any bleed is required on the design by your online printer. Once you're happy with the size, export your design as a PDF. Saving your design as a PDF helps maintain the highest quality and ensures all elements are included correctly when it's time to print.
Understanding File Format Options
Think of your Canva design as a piece of artwork and to showcase it you need the right type of frame. File formats act as these frames, they determine how your design will look when printed.
- PDF: This can be compared to a container. It's a digital file format that maintains all your design elements together (text, images, graphics) and looks the same no matter where you open it. PDF is usually the safest and most preferred option for printing.
- JPG: Similar to a compressed box for photos. It's great for photography but might not be the best for designs with lots of text or sharp edges.
- PNG: Functions like a container with the ability to include transparent sections. This format is commonly used on the internet and not recommended for high quality print.
PDF is the recommended file format for most printing projects. It guarantees that your design prints as you intended.
Print-Ready Quality
For the best-looking printed designs, try using the grids in Canva. They'll make a big difference in how your design looks when it's printed. These invisible lines help keep everything aligned and organized, making your design more visually appealing.
Keep all important elements – text, logos, and images – within the designated safe zone. This will prevent them from being cut off when you print. This safe zone typically sits about ⅛ inch from the document's edge. We'll explain more below.
Before submitting your design to the printer, make sure to proofread it carefully for any errors or typos. Look over the images. Are they high-resolution (at least 300 DPI) to prevent blurriness in the final print?
Adding Crop Marks and Bleed
A bleed area of 0.125 to 0.25 inches beyond the trim line helps prevent white edges in the final print and accommodates slight cutting variations. Including a bleed of ⅛ inches in your design helps maintain a seamless look after trimming.
Crop marks indicate where the printer should trim the paper to achieve the final trim size, resulting in a neat and precise end product. While these marks are helpful, most online printers do not require them with your print ready files.
Customizing Export Settings
Let's look at how to customize the export settings to maximize the quality of your exported files.
Resolution and Color Mode
Pay close attention to resolution and color mode. Select the appropriate color profile for your project, such as CMYK for professional printing or RGB for digital displays. Adjust image compression settings to balance file size with print quality. Generally, higher resolution results in clearer images but increases file size.
Note: Like most professional online printing services, we will convert your RGB Canva designs to CMYK during the printing process. Why? The conversion is necessary because online printers cannot directly use the RGB color information from your Canva design.
Exporting Your Design from Canva
Once you've completed and proofread your design in Canva, it's time to send it off for printing! Canva simplifies this process by allowing you to easily export your design as a 'Print PDF' using the 'Download' button. This guarantees your file is in the correct format for online printers.
The download process is straightforward, but paying attention to details like file type (PDF), resolution (at least 300 DPI), and color mode (CMYK) can make a big difference in the final print quality. Double-check your design and settings before finalizing the download to avoid any issues.
Did You Know: Canva allows you to export your design in various formats, including PDF, JPG, PNG, and SVG.
Here's what you need to do:
- Hit the "Share" button located at the top right corner of your design editor.
- Select "Download" from the menu. This will reveal a list of different file formats you can select from.
- For printing, choose "PDF (Print)." This option preserves your design's crisp and clear design, with all the fonts, images, and layouts for professional printing.
Troubleshooting Common Export Issues
Sometimes, an error occurs during the export process. If that occurs, it's not a problem.. Here are some tips to help you resolve common issues.
Common Export Errors
- Check for errors in the design file, such as missing fonts or images.
- Double-check that the export settings are correct. This included the file format (PDF) and resolution (300 dpi).
- File Size limitation. If the design is too complex, it might exceed the limit.
- Technical glitches within Canva. This can sometimes interfere with the export process.
Tip: Clear your browser cache and cookies, export on a different device or browser, and contact Canva support if problems persist.
Printing Your Design
With Canva, you can print with a professional online printer or at home.
Choosing an Online Printer Printer
Understanding the requirements of your printing service, including specifications for bleeds and crop marks, is important for achieving a professional print result for your Canva designs.
At Print Cartel, we specialize in high-quality prints and offer a range of stock options to match your design requirements. If you're not sure which feature (Spot UV, Inline Foil, etc.) or finish (Matte, UV Coated), you can request a free sample packet, allowing you to see and feel the different options before making a final decision. Let us help you bring your design to life!
Tip: Use the “Access” feature to share your design with the printing service and track the printing process.
Conclusion
The best part about Canva is how easy it makes it for anyone to create print-ready files. From choosing the right templates and incorporating design elements to ensuring your design is print-ready with proper bleeds, Canva simplifies the entire process.
By selecting the appropriate file type for your printing needs and following the guidelines outlined here, you can achieve professional-quality results, whether printing at home or through a professional service like Print Cartel.
So why wait? Start your project today and bring your Canva designs to life. With a little practice and these helpful tips, you'll be well on your way to creating impressive marketing materials and other print designs that you'll be proud to display and share.
